With the current protests for the #BlackLivesMatter movement occurring all over the world, a lot of celebrities, including the band Lady Antebellum are thinking about their past actions and how they want to be better allies to the community.
The band changed their name to Lady A, but that actually caused quite a bit of controversy with another singer!
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Because of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, famous bang Lady Antebellum have decided to change their name to Lady A.
They gave a lengthy explanation as to why, but not everyone appreciates their change in name!
“Dear Fans, As a band, we have strived for our music to be a refuge…inclusive of all.”
“We’ve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday.”
“Now, blindspots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed. After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word “antebellum” from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start. ”
“When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern “antebellum” style home where we took our first photos.”
“We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued. Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that.”
“So today, we speak up and make a change. We hope you will dig in and join us.”
“As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us…Southern Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel and of course Country.”
“But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery.”
However, this big change comes with some friction from a black blues singer who calls herself Lady A, and who has been using that name for 20 years now.
Anita White, 61, discussed the matter with Rolling Stone and how unhappy she is about it.
“This is my life. Lady A is my brand, I’ve used it for over 20 years, and I’m proud of what I’ve done,” White said.
“This is too much right now. They’re using the name because of a Black Lives Matter incident that, for them, is just a moment in time.”
“If it mattered, it would have mattered to them before. It shouldn’t have taken George Floyd to die for them to realize that their name had a slave reference to it.”
What do you think about this? Let us know below in the comments!
